Newsletter: December 2025

Though the coming weeks in the Northern Hemisphere are ones of turning inward into winter’s stillness, rest, and conservation — and we, too, will spend time in gathering and reflection — the entire MCTIGUE team is energized to greet the new year! 2025 demanded a great deal of resetting and recuperation, and we are eager to move forward in creating with a new paradigm: one that enriches human existence, nurtures all life, and sustains the planet through each relationship we build and each design we conceive. 

But we would be remiss if we ended the year without expressing the utmost gratitude for the things that have been so essential to us:

- The time spent, and the projects we've created, with both continuing and new clients this year. 

- The impact of those projects and the value they bring to People. Place, and Planet.

- The resilience which our internal team, our partners, and our clients have all exhibited and led with.

- The fact that, considering the impact of this year's challenges, we all simply got through it together. 

We’re also grateful to have enjoyed so many new connections and conversations, and to everyone who made them possible. Leaping into a new year of great growth includes even more opportunities for discussions, panels, and presentations, as they richly allow us to share the principles of Conscious Architecture so that People, Place, and Planet can all thrive.

Thank you for persevering — and growing forward — with all of us. May anticipation and hope remain alight in you, 

Drew Pedrick, AIA, Founder and CVO, MCTIGUE

Project Highlight: Inland Valley Recovery Services Youth Facility

How do you create a therapeutic residential environment addressing complex psychological needs for vulnerable youth within strict budget limitations?

Rather than simply executing a predetermined plan, we reimagined the entire project through the lens of nurturing therapeutic environments and trauma-informed design. Our approach centered on optimizing spatial relationships, building orientation, materials and finishes, and indoor-outdoor connections to create healing spaces that considered collaboration as much as cost constraints.

And though the new construction will open later in 2026, the project's success has already led to invitations for us to consult with other recovery agencies on their facilities, as all required programmatic elements have been embodied in this comprehensive facility, while remaining within budget. 

We’re honored to have demonstrated that the most nurturing environments can emerge when we design with deep understanding of human psychological needs and genuine respect for the people who will inhabit the place we create, while keeping them connected to (and protecting) the planet.
 

Project Highlight: Gaia Spectrum Building

The architecture and design services that envisioned the transformation of this two-story, 1903-1904 unreinforced brick building into a showcase for an environmental consulting firm was such an exciting example of the possibilities of Conscious Architecture. The scope included comprehensive interior and seismic compliance improvements, as well as the integration of advanced sustainable strategies including atmospheric water generation, solar power systems, composting waste stream, and urban food production.

Rather than treating this as a conventional renovation, we and our client collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to reimagine the building as a comprehensive living laboratory, office, and show-piece. The transformation conceived a renewed lifespan for the historic building while amplifying the client's opportunity to display their sustainable technologies and consulting expertise. The entirety of the project illuminates how alternative strategies can achieve cutting-edge performance standards.

Every aspect of the Gaia Spectrum project embodies how preservation, advanced sustainable technology, and collaborative engagement can work together to create buildings that serve multiple stakeholders while championing environmental stewardship. 

We are very eager to complete more projects like this one in the future. If you have such a project in mind (or know others who do), let's set up a conversation! 

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Any data collected through our communications will be used solely for the purpose of providing you with relevant updates and services. We will never share or sell your information to third parties.

If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link provided in this email. You can also reply to this message, including unsubscribe in the topic. For more details, please contact us directly.